Jesus is saying: Yes, work matters, and doing things for your neighbor, community, and church matters. But don’t get distracted by others when your focus must be on Jesus. As you go to work today, remember that you are there for Jesus, not your supervisor. You are there to represent Jesus, not get a paycheck. When you go home to your spouse, remember that Jesus is present in your marriage. That marriage is to picture Christ, not to get what you want.

What are your New Year's Resolutions? Maybe God is inviting you to surrender to His will, instead of adding your hopes.

I want to continue being someone who is convicted by the things that don’t please God. I want to lay down my own wants for what God has for me. I want God to continue to search my heart and remove any unpleasant thing (Psalm 139:23-24). Family, this is the heart posture that produces growth and healing. Today, may you break up the monotony to grab ahold of the newness God wants to do in you.

Every year, it seems we knock ourselves out trying to make it the "perfect" Christmas. But, year after year, we end up feeling like maybe Christmas wasn't as personally fulfilling as we hoped it would be. My expectations are rarely met at Christmas… but… God's promises are! The promise is not "Joy to the World" I got everything I wanted… but… "Joy to the World" the LORD has come! And that's the key to a Happy New Year!

On our own, we easily fall back into harmful old habits. Fortunately, however, we have the Spirit of God available to us to make positive changes in our life a reality. What this means is that while we once thought and acted in the ways of the world, when we surrender to Jesus Christ, we are changed and made new.

As you think about turning the calendar to January 1, I’d like to invite you to skip making resolutions that are unrealistic to keep, but to set a goal to get to know Jesus, one day at a time. As we grow deeper spiritually, He gives us power to break through challenges in our emotional health, helps us stay committed to sexual wholeness, and connects in relationships. He gives purpose and meaning to our daily work and personal lives.

God here is saying He is the true gardener. This true gardener loves us unconditionally and accepts us as we are. This true gardener cares deeply about our present and our future. Therefore, this true gardener wants to eliminate anything affecting our relationship with Him and others. He is so wise and careful that He can perfectly cut away - or prune - anything hindering us.

In your “in-between” moments, God is with you. Where do you need Him to show up in 2023?

God wants you to build your life on Him. You see, it’s not just about hearing God’s words, it’s about putting them into practice. And what a great time to reset before the new year. Let’s strive to be followers of Jesus who want to build a house that is sturdy and unshaken. Let’s not paint over the issues of our lives, but rather be willing to tear down what’s not good and rebuild. We serve a God who is the Master Builder, ready and willing to walk us through it.

What I want for you to know in 2023, more than anything else, is this: It is not your love for Jesus or your good behavior for Jesus or your compassionate acts for Jesus that moves Jesus to bless you.… It is His Love for YOU alone that moves the heart of Jesus to help you and heal you and bless you!